75 Years of Vitamin A Production: A Historical and Scientific Overview of the Development of New Methodologies in Chemistry, Formulation, and Biotechnology

In 1948, the first kilograms of synthetic vitamin A (acetate) were produced by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, eliminating the need to extract this vital compound from natural sources; this year marks 75 years of successful production. Since then, a number of chemical routes have been commercialized. Of these, three processes have stood the test of time and are still in use today, with only minor modifications. This review covers both the historical and scientific developments in the production of vitamin A derivatives from their beginnings up until recent developments including a fully catalytic process and the successful pilot-scale production via fermentation. In addition, the development of formulation technologies, which have gone hand-in-hand with chemical process development, is described; correct formulation is essential for stabilizing vitamin A derivatives which are sensitive to light and oxidation.